Digital Learning and Leadership Faculty Fellows 2025-2026 Central Michigan University

Are you interested in incorporating digital learning tools and technologies into your classroom this academic year? Consider joining the 2025-26 Digital Learning and Leadership Faculty Fellows program here at CMU, led by Katie Edmiston (CMU Libraries) and Troy Hicks (College of Education and Human Services).

This is a unique opportunity for 20 CMU faculty members, regular or fixed term, to develop and implement a tailored digital learning assignment for a course of your choice, with a special focus on incorporating digital literacies in your discipline using Adobe Express. You will have the opportunity to engage with other faculty across campus who are also interested in digital literacy, receive support and peer critique to strengthen your project idea, and learn from others’ successes and challenges.

For more information about the program, see below. To apply for the program, complete the following form:

Questions? Email Katie Edmiston at edmis2k@cmich.edu

Project Objectives

• Assemble key faculty members across disciplines to learn and develop ideas around incorporating digital literacy into the classroom.
• Create a sustainable model for faculty to continue learning from one another and connect with what others are doing
• Provide opportunities and support for faculty to consult on how to add a digital/multimedia/ai aspect to their course/courses.

When to Apply?

Applications will close on Monday, September 8th at 5:00 PM. You will be notified of acceptance to the program by Monday, September 15th at 5:00 PM.

Please review the meeting schedule outlined below to confirm that you would be able to participate.

Who Can Apply?

We seek a cohort of approximately 20 regular and fixed-term faculty colleagues from across all colleges. While previous experience with Adobe Express and other Adobe products is helpful, it is not required.

Applications will be evaluated based on a response to the following brief essay question:

Given the description of this fellowship opportunity, please write a brief response (200-250 words) that tells us more about what makes you qualified and interested in becoming a Digital Learning and Leadership Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year. Specifically, please tell us more about:

• Yourself as an educator interested in growing your own digital literacies through this fellowship (75-100 words)
• The course and assignment that you see as being a good fit for integrating an intentional focus on digital literacy and creativity (100-150 words)

What will the Fellowship Program Include?

The Fellowship program will take place over the 2025-2026 academic year. Participants will meet one Friday a month for two hours (11:00 to 1:00) from September-April to engage in professional development and hands-on activities to develop and refine a digital learning assignment for one of their courses.

Lunch will be included at all meetings, and a professional development stipend of $500 will be provided to all participants upon successful completion of all program requirements.

Meeting Schedule:

• Friday, September 26, 2025 (3-hour kickoff)
• Friday, October 24, 2025
• Friday, November 21, 2025
• Friday, December 12, 2025
• Friday, January 30, 2026
• Friday, February 20, 2026
• Friday, March 20, 2026
• Friday, April 17, 2026

NOTE: At this time, we are planning on a face-to-face fellowship experience. However, if there is some interest in Hyflex from potential participants, we may consider that as an option. If you would only be interested in participating if Hyflex is available, please contact Katie (edmis2k@cmich.edu) to let her know.

Learning outcomes:

• Designing digital literacy and digital learning assignments within your discipline
• Introducing & teaching design principles in the classroom
• Leveraging Adobe Express, Adobe AI capabilities, and other digital tools

Requirements to Participate

Participants will be required to:

• Attend at least 6 of 8 meetings on Fridays, Sept-April, lunch included (9/26, 10/24, 11/21, 12/12, 1/30, 2/20, 3/20, 4/17)
• Develop a digital learning assignment for one course of your choice, to be implemented in the 25-26 academic year.
• Present an in-person or pre-recorded video overview of the digital learning assignment for a faculty symposium (Date TBD in late April or early May).

What are Examples of a Digital Learning Assignment?

A digital learning assignment for your course can look like many things. It could take the form of replacing a traditional writing assignment with a digital or multimedia product, asking students to engage with a digital tool, or fostering conversation around digital literacy and/or AI. This assignment will align with and accentuate your current course goals. To find sample assignments, the Adobe Education Exchange offers many examples. Digital/multimedia products that could be a key component of the assignment you design could include any of all of the following:

• A webpage
• A video
• A podcast
• An interactive presentation
• A digital flyer or infographic
• Digital marketing materials (social media posts, digital flyers, etc.)
• Professional materials (digital resume, digital portfolio, branded business card, etc.)
• Or wherever else your – and your students’ – creativity takes you!